Scheifele on board with Penticton Vees

Mark Scheifele knows a thing or two about the type of environment required to foster optimal development of a top junior hockey prospect.

So, it comes as little surprise that the Winnipeg Jets centre is getting on board as a partner with majority owner Graham Fraser, as the Penticton Vees hockey team gets set to join the Western Hockey League for the 2025-26 season.

Scheifele has a strong connection to the Fraser family, as they were his billets during two seasons with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League.

“He’s owned the Penticton Vees for a long time,” said Scheifele. “I’m obviously a guy that played junior and had my junior career living with them, and they made my experience so special.

“Just kind of a cool opportunity to kind of even get your foot in the door a little in that sense, but to learn about that side of the game, but also just try to grow a program in the vision that Graham has.”

Fraser and Scheifele spoke often during the past decade-plus about what it was like running the Vees franchise, with Scheifele chiming in his likes and dislikes for how things get done.

“He’s a guy that wants to make an amazing experience, especially for kids leaving their home and moving there to try and chase the dream of playing pro hockey,” said Scheifele. “Our ideals on the hockey world just mesh so well. I’m a very, very small part but I’m excited to see where his vision takes it.”

Scheifele becomes the second member of the Jets to get involved in a partnership with a sports franchise this season, as defenceman Josh Morrissey was unveiled as an investor with Calgary Wild FC of the Northern Super League, back in late October.

The Vees were founded in 1961 and were a charter member of the British Columbia Hockey League. They have been a highly successful franchise, playing out of the South Okanagan Events Centre — which has also been the home of the Young Stars Classic prospects tournament that the Jets have frequently taken part in.

Scheifele also can provide some perspective on making the jump from Junior A hockey to the Canadian Hockey League, as he left the Kitchener Dutchmen after one season to join the Colts after a meeting with former Jets legend Dale Hawerchuk.

His original plan was to go the NCAA route with the Cornell Big Red and study physiology before that life-altering conversation with Hawerchuk.

“As you probably know, when you billet kids, they kind of become part of your family, too,” Fraser said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. “To the rest of the world, he’s Mark Scheifele the hockey player and, to me, he’s Mark. When he lived with us those years, we spent hours and hours at the dinner table or downstairs watching hockey and talking hockey non-stop. We’ve always had this hockey connection.

“He understands every aspect of the game. He really, really does. And he studies it. He lives and breathes it and that’s sort of what (the Vees organization) is like. We have that common bond that if we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right.”

Coupled with the personal connection and Scheifele’s passion for the game, it made for a perfect match.

“Mark loves hockey. This will be good for him. It’s good to get involved and learn how junior hockey works, how organizations work,” said Fraser, who is also excited to see Scheifele share his personal experiences with Vees’ players. “He can now mentor the next generation of players because he’s lived it. I knew him when he was a skinny kid who ate bad and then I watched him turn into a consummate pro. He does everything to be better. How he eats, his off-ice training.

“Let’s face it, the kids playing junior all aspire to go somewhere. They all have that dream. Mark will be a voice to them, to welcome them to our program and part of what we want to do is run a top-notch major junior program. Give every kid every advantage to develop. And he can give us ideas. From a player point of view of what they’re all looking for. He can help the players and he can help us always strive to be better. He made himself one of the best players in the world. I really believe that. I watched him (do it).”

The opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the business and hockey sides converge is part of the appeal for Scheifele to get involved.

“That’s a big reason why I’m into it,” said Scheifele. “Obviously, I’d love to get into that side of things post-career. So it’s a way of learning and just trying to absorb.

“Not do a whole lot of talking, but do a whole lot of listening and learn about that side of things and take it where it may.”

Former New York Rangers goalie and Hall of Famer Mike Richter is another one of the partners with Fraser on the Vees venture.

The Vees become the 23rd WHL franchise, with Chilliwack set to join the league for the 2026-27 campaign.

Scheifele was asked if he planned to be a hands-on owner, getting involved in the day-to-day operations?

“Definitely not,” he said. “Definitely not right now.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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